Connecticut western news., 1887-03-16
WARD
THE LATE HENRY WA BEECHER.
The Impressive Funeral Services
 Over His Remains.

almost completely covered with flowers whose fragrance filled the darkened room.
 The only portion of the casket which was not covered with the beautiful trailing pail made of asparagus fern and white flowers was was that above the head, which was entirely open save for large plate glass, through which the .leonine head and kindly face of the dead pas tor could be seen. He looked very much as in life. The noble face lay in repose as though merely sleeping. The marks of suffering had gone. There was no cancellation, and the features were calm and lifelike in expression. His white hair, pushed back from the noble brow, fell upon his shoulders as of old.
 The body was dressed in the familiar gar ments in which Mir. Beecher has ever appear ed, and the right hand lay easily and naturally across his breast clasping white rosebud.
 Around the head of the casket sat 8 quartet of singers, who had for many years led the great volunteer choir of Plymouth Church.
 Close beside the foot of the casket sat Mrs. less during the entire funeral service, and seemed scarcely to take her eyes from the face of her dead husband. Near her sat her two sons, with their wives and children. The front parlor was reserved for these and the immediate family of MT. Beecher. The other relatives of the dead sat in the back par Tor.
 The Rev. Chas D. Hall, of Holy Trinity P. E. Church, conducted the services, dressed in the robes of his priestly office. He spoke some words of comfort to Mrs. Beecher, and then opening his Book of Prayer he began to read the beautiful burial service of which Mir. Beecher was always very fond.
 Several times while Dr. Hall was speaking the sobs of his auditors broke upon his words, and he was himself so deeply affected that ho could with difficulty proceed.
 At appropriate intervals during the services the choir sang "Nearer, My God to Thee" ," s'Jesus, Lover of My Soul, and "B.yond the Smiling and the Weeping" All the selections were tavorites of Mir. Beecher's.
 A prayer by Dr. Hall concluded the services, and then, one after the other, beginning with Mrs. Beecher, the family and relatives came and fingered by the coffin to take another look upon the face of the loved one.
 The casket was then closed, the pail of green and white was laid upon it, and it was lifted upon the shoulders of six of the undertaker's remains were escorted by the 18th regiment, of which MT. Beecher was chaplain, to Ply mouth Church.
 This edifice was transformed into verita- ble floral conservatory, in which the ingenuity and skill of the florists art would appear to have been taxed in devising the display which greeted the beholder. Not particle of black was discernible save that of the dark patches of broadcloath that were to be seen between the green and floral coverings of the casket and the crape upon the hilts of the officers swords.
 At the church, awaiting the body of their pastor, were about hundred members of Plymouth, most of whom were in the gallery, to witness the last incoming of him who made the church what it is, and had inspired it to were in the body of the church looked again on MT. Beecher's face when the casket was opened.
 Then the doors were thrown open to the public, and directed by the details from the guard of honor which were changed at inter- vale fha DaOnla fhrOn pod n aDfprinU m fba east side and passing out, after viewing the body, through the lecture room, which was also decorated, to Cranberry street.
 At first there were many to enter from the multitude that had followed the procession to the church. After these had passed there was lull for short time, but as it became known that Mir. Beecher could be seen by the public, the throng increased until the very streets were insufficient to accommodate them. They were of all sorts-men, women and children some so small that they had to be lifted in their parents arms to look upon the face of the man of whose greatness they were yet, in gressed the crowd grew. It filled Orange street. The police took it in hand and made line, in double file, which soon extended to to turn the line down Henry street on one side and up on the other side to relieve the throng- ing of Fulton street, which was needed for the accommodation of the home-returning patrons of the Bridge. AS the Bridge emptied its thousands so near to Plymouth Church those who took this opportunity to look once more on Henry Ward Beecher.
 Crowds of people began to gather in the neighborhood of Plymouth Church as early as eight o'clock Friday morning. Lines of police were drawn across Orange Street at Henry and Hicks streets, and no one was permitted to pass except those provided with tickets of ad- mission to the church. Prior to the admission of the general public, the delegates from the Brooklyn Clerical Union and many other visit ing clergymen were admitted to the church. Mrs Beecher, accompanied by her sons and three or four other members of the family, visited the church about half past nine o'clock, and looked. at the face of the dead preacher, but they were not present during the service. MT. Beecher's brothers, Thomas K. and Edwar were present during the service, with num- Der of MT. Beecher's nieces. They sat in the pews immediately in front of and behind the pastors pew, which was fl led with red and white roses.
 The central aisle was reserved for immedi- ate friends of the family and visiting delega- tions. The musical part of the service was rendered by double quartet, assisted by the full force of the old volunteer choir, under the direction of Choir-master Henry Camp.
 At half-past ten o'clock the Rev. Dr. Chas. H. Hall of the church of the Holy Trinity, be- gan the reading of the opening sentences in the burial of the dead. Then followed the burial chant, 'Lord, Let Me Know Mine End" rendered by the double quartet. Dr. Hall then read the regular lesson from the tifteen- thians. The anthem s'Blessed are the Depart composed of Mrs. Shelley, Mrs. Rosan, Mr. Graf and MT. Levison, and tho full choir. Dr. Hall then delivered an address highly eulogistic of MT. Beecher, praising the self I1., ~c ,%,,A bad acterzed his life. In closing his address Dr. Hall said:
 On his last Sunday evening in this place, two weeks ago, after the congregation had re- tired from it, the organist and one or two others were practising the hymn:
 s'I heard the voice of Jesus say,
 Come unto me and resi-"
 MT. Beecher doubtless, with that tire that follows pastors Sunday work, remained and listened. Two street urchins were prompted to wander into the building, and one of them >was standing, perhaps, in the position like the boy who Raphael has immortaized, gaz- ing at the organ. The old man, laying his wards and kissed him, and with his arms about the two leftIthi, scene of his triumphs, his trials and his successes. forever.
 It was 8 fitting close to grand life, the old man of genius and fame shielding the little wanderers, great in breasting traditional ways
 
 like him, that recognized, as did the Master, that the humblest and the poorest were Il; s brethren, the great preacher led out into the night by the little namcless wafs.
 During the address of Dr. Hall and the prayer by the Rev. S. B. Halliday, which fol- lowed, many of tho congregation, men as we'll as women, were affected to tears, and as the congregation rose and sang "Jesus, Lover of my Soul" to the tune of Wesley, there wero many who could not command their voices. Earth WIS then sprinkled upon the coffin II accordance with the forms of tho Protestant Episcopal ritual, and II Heard Il Voice was sung by the double quartet. The congre- gation sang Glove Diyine," one of Mir. Beecn- CTS favorite hymns to the tune of Beechcr, aud the bencdiction was then pronounced. Tho entire congregation was then permitted to look at the face of the dead, passing up tho central east aisle and leaving the church by the rear entrance. AS they did so the quartet and choir sang |" Hark, Hark My Soul" G